Waste Ink Container Positioning for Easy Printer Exchange
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing printing apparatuses face challenges in facilitating easy and efficient exchange of waste liquid containers, particularly waste ink containers, which affects usability.
Innovation Solution
A printing apparatus design that includes a waste ink container storage unit with tubular portions and a waste ink output unit, allowing for easy insertion and removal of waste ink containers, and preventing ink solidification and leakage, while ensuring proper electrical connection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a waste liquid container is fixed by a waste liquid introduction unit, then the waste liquid can be properly stored, but the container exchange becomes complicated and usability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The waste liquid container is divided into separable components: a removable container body and a fixed introduction unit. This segmentation allows the container body to be easily exchanged while the introduction unit remains attached to the printer, resolving the contradiction between secure connection and easy exchange.
Solution Approach 2:
The container lid portion is extracted as a separate removable component from the container body. This extraction enables users to access and exchange the lid without removing the entire container, simplifying the exchange process while maintaining proper waste liquid introduction functionality.
2Ease of operation
If the waste liquid container structure is simplified for easy exchange, then usability improves, but the risk of ink solidification and leakage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The container lid is pre-configured with a seal portion that automatically engages with the container body upon attachment. This preliminary preparation of the sealing interface ensures proper ink containment is established before the container is inserted, preventing leakage while maintaining simple exchange procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal portion is strategically positioned at the critical interface between the lid and container body where ink containment is most needed. This localized sealing solution provides reliable ink containment without requiring complex sealing mechanisms throughout the entire container structure.
3Ease of operation
If the container exchange process is made easier, then user convenience improves, but proper electrical connection during exchange becomes more difficult to ensure
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical connection components (contact portions) are designed to automatically engage and disconnect through the simple mechanical action of inserting or removing the container. This self-service mechanism ensures proper electrical connection without requiring additional user actions or complex alignment procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical insertion motion and electrical connection establishment are merged into a single action. As the container is inserted into the storage unit, the contact portions automatically make electrical contact, combining the ease of mechanical exchange with reliable electrical connection in one simplified operation.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A printing apparatus including a printhead for printing by discharging ink, comprising an output unit for outputting waste ink discharged from the printhead, and a container which can inserted in or removed from an apparatus main body, the container being connected to the output unit and receiving the waste ink output from the output unit in a state where the container is inserted into the apparatus main body, the output unit including a channel portion for deriving the waste ink, the channel portion engaging with the container to position the container inserted into the apparatus main body, and the channel portion being configured to not to come into surface contact with the container at the time of insertion or removal of the container.